Reel container



Oct. 15, 1968 J. E. PETERSON 3,405,798

REEL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4rrammp' Oct; 15, 1968 J. E. PETERSON 3,405,798

REEL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lA/Vf/VTOR Jack 6 Pe/erran United States Patent O 3,405,798 REEL CONTAINER Jack E. Peterson, Marina Del Rey, Calif., assignor to Comdata Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 631,6 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-52) ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE This disclosure describes a container for a reel which includes first and second complementary container sections' One of the container sections defines a locking surface and the other of the container sections carries a movable detent engageable with the locking surface to tightly hold the container sections together. The detent is movable generally radially and axially of the case sections into engagement with the locking surface to interlock the two container sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tape which is designed for computer use is usually wound on a reel and must be kept very clean if it is to perform satisfactorily. Even small quantities of dust or other contaminants can make the tape unsuited for its intended purposes. It is necessary therefore that a reel container provide a substantially dust and contaminant tight enclosure to prevent contamination of the tape therein. Ordinary packaging techniques are totally unsuited for storing and transporting tape of this type.

One type of reel container that has been very successful is described in common assignees copending patent application Ser. No. 563,456. This type of reel container includes first and second complementary case or container sections. One of the container sections defines a locking surface and the other of the container sections carries a movable detent engageable with the locking surface to draw the peripheries of the container into sealing engagement to thereby form a tight enclosure for the reel, More particularly, the detent is carnmed radially outwardly into engagement with an inclined or arcuate locking surface, and as the detent is forced further radially outwardly, the two container sections are drawn tightly together. The detent is a relatively hard noncompressible element which is not subject to cold fiow when subjected to compressive forces.

Although this detent-type of reel container operates very satisfactorily, it has been found that it is very important that the detent and the locking surface bear the proper orientation relative to each other, for if they do not, the detent as it moves radially outwardly will not engage or will not properly engage the locking surface. Specifically, it is important that the detent have the proper elevation or axial position relative to the locking surface so that radial outward movement of the detent will cause engagement between the detent and the locking surface of the type which will be operative to draw the container sections together and firmly hold them in interlocking relationship. If this proper relationship or axial position of the locking surface and detent is not maintained, the container sections will not be locked together and the reel container becomes inoperative. Alternatively, if the locking surface and the detent engage, but not properly, the two container sections may not be drawn into sealing en- 3,405,798 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 "ice gagement thereby permitting contaminants to enter the container and contaminate the tape.

It is necessary therefore to construct the two complementary container sections within close tolerances in order to maintain the proper axial relationship between the detent and the locking surface. Maintaining close tolerances is, of course, expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, maintaining of close tolerances is made more diflicult because each of the container sections is constructed of molded plastic material. It is inherent in molding the container sections of plastic material, that the container sections will tend to assume a generally convex shape, i.e., tend to bow outwardly at the central regions thereof. As the locking surface and the detent are carried by central portions of the container sections, such inherent bowing tends to elevate the detent relative to the locking surface. It is not uncommon for this convexity to be sufiicient to prevent engagement or proper engagement of the detent and the locking surface.

With this detent-type of reel container, the detent is moved radially outwardly to the locking position by pivotal movement of a handle which is rotatably mounted on one of the container sections. Rotation of this handle is limited by a pin which rides in a slot. One difiiculty with this arrangement is that the pin is subject to being sheared off by repeated engagement with the end surfaces of the slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention over-comes the problem of the inherent tendency of the container sections to bow outwardly and allows construction of the container sections within wider tolerances. The present invention teaches that this result can be accomplished by initially positioning the detent in the unlocked position thereof, radially inwardly and below, i.e., axially spaced from, the locking surface. As used herein, the words above, below and similar words relating to elevation have reference to axial spacing, it being understood that reel containers of this type can be easily manually inverted or turned to various other orientations. T o interlock the container sections, the detent is first moved radially outwardly and then axially upwardly to forcibly engage the locking surface and thereby draw the container sections together into tight sealing relationship.

Moving the detent in the manner described above, allows construction of the container sections within a wider tolerance range. With the present invention the detent is initially at an axial position which is lower than with the prior art device. Thus, there is no danger that the detent will not be sufiiciently low to lockingly engage the locking surface. As the detent is moved axially upwardly toward the locking surface, it engages the locking surface and applies a force thereto which draws the container sections tightly together. As the detent is moved axially upwardly, the plastic of the container section against which the detent bears has suificient resilience to resiliently deform under the force of the detent Without causing damage to the container section.

There is no problem with the locking surface being elevated above the detent to such an extent that even following axial movement of the detent, the detent will not be forcibly engaging the locking surface. The reason for this is that the molded plastic container sections inherently bow outwardly at the central regions thereof rather than inwardly. As explained above, the outward bowing of the container sections tends to move the detent and locking surface closer together to the extent that the detent may not properly engage the locking surface. Thus, this problem can be corrected by lowering the detent relative to the locking surface in the unlocked position and then moving the detent axially toward the locking surface to a locked position.

The above-described concepts of this invention may be conveniently embodied in a reel container which ineludes first and second complementary container sections engageable to form a substantially dust-tight enclosure, means on the first container section defining a locking surface at a central portion of the container section, and means on the second container section for mounting a detent for radial and axial movement toward and away from the locking surface. A movable actuator is provided for moving the detent radially and axially into engagement with the locking surface.

Another feature of the present invention is to facilitate the manual locking movement that the user causes the actuator to undergo. This is accomplished by positioning the detent and the locking surface so that a substantial portion of the radial movement of the detent occurs without any forcible engagement between the detent and the locking surface. Thus, for this portion of the detent movement, the actuator is very easily movable and it is only for the latter portion of the actuator movement that any significant force must be applied to the actuator.

To further facilitate movement of the actuator, the axial movement of the detent is obtained through a camming action. In this connection, the detent may ride on a camming surface which is mounted for movement with and forms a portion of the actuator. The caniming surface includes a ramp portion which serves to elevate or move the ball axially from its lower position to its upper locking position. Preferably, the detent is in the form of a ball which rolls easily as it is urged along by the cam.

The actuator includes a handle portion which is rotatably mounted on one of the container sections, preferably the upper container section. The upper container section is provided with rigid abutments and the handle has stop members engageable with the abutments for limiting the arc of rotation of the handle. The abutments and stop members are strong and not subject to shearing off or otherwise failing during normal use of the container.

Another feature of this invention is the manner in which the locked position of the container sections is marked. One of the container sections, preferably the upper container section has a shallow recess and the handle is formed with a projection receivable in the recess when the handle is turned to the locked position. To assure that the projection will be pulled into the recess, the handle is preloaded downwardly against the container section by the action of the cam in forcing the detent upwardly against the locking surface. The projection is therefore caused to enter the groove with a type of positive snap action. Of course, the projection and recess may be reversed, if desired, with the projection being formed on the container section and the recess formed in the handle.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of Operation together with further features and advantages thereof may be best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a reel container constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the detents or locking balls in their locking position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ball retainer which imparts axial movement to the detents.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 and showingthe components of the device in the locked position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the detents in the releasing position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5 and showing the relationship of the detents and the locking surface in the releasing position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 4 showing the means for limiting rotation of the handle unit and for advising the user when the case is in the locked position.

FIG. 8 is a'fragmentaryview taken from the top of FIG. '7."

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, reference numeral 11 designates a reel container constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The reel container 11 generally includes an upper case or container section 13 and a lower container or case section 15 both of which are constructed of suitable molded plastic material. The lower container section 15 includes a bottom wall 17, a centrally disposed cylindrical wall section 19, which projects axially inwardly into the container 11, and a transverse end wall 21 generally parallel to the bottom wall 17 and having an axial aperture therethrough. A pair of upstanding peripheral webs 23 and 25 extend completely around the periphery of the lower container section 15 and form a retainer for an O-ring 27. The transverse end wall 21 terminates radially inwardly in an inclined annular surface which defines a locking surface 29. Preferably, the locking surface 29 is frustoconical and therefore appears flat in radial cross section.

The upper container section 13 includes a top wall 3-1 and a generally cylindrical peripheral wall 33, the lower end of which is received between the webs 23 and 25 and sealingly engages the O-ring 27. Both the bottom walls 17 and top wall 31 are provided with suitable reinforcing ribs such as radially extending ribs 35. The upper container section 13 also includes a cylindrical wall 37 generally coaxial with the cylindrical wall section 19, a transverse end wall 39 confronting and closely adjacent the transverse end wall 21, and an axially extending generally annular flange 41 (FIGS. 4 and 5) extending axially from the transverse end Wall 39 through the aperture in the transverse end wall 21. The cylindrical wall 37 and the transverse end wall 39' form a centrally disposed well which extends into the reel container 11. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the annular flange 41 has openings 43 therein, each of which contains a detent in the form of a locking ball 45. v

The upper container seetion 13- and the lower container section 15 can be assembled as shown in FIG. 2 to form a sealed container for a reel 46 of tape or for other products. The reel 46 is annular so that the cylindrical wall section 19 and the cylindrical wall 37 are received within the opening of the annular reel. Preferably, the reel 46 is held tightly within the container 11 by a pair of resilient rings 46a which fit over the walls 19 and 37 and grip the inner edges of the reel.

A handle unit 47 and a cap 49 combine to form a rotatable actuator for imparting the desired movement to the balls 45. The handle unit 47 includes a cup section 51 rotatable in the well defined by the cylindrical wall 37 in the transverse end wall 39, a handle 53 within the cup section and afiixed thereto, and a cam section 55 integral with the cup section and slidingly received within the annular flange 41. The handle unit 47 is mounted on the reel container by the cap 49 which is suitably aflixed thereto as by a key (not shown) and an adhesive. The cam section 55 has a generally cylindrical periphery as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with portions thereof cut away to form recesses 57 to permit radial inward movement of the balls 45. The remainder of the peripheral surface or the curved portions thereof are operative to urge the balls 45 radially outwardly. The number of the recesses 57 corresponds to the number of locking balls 45 so that by rotation of the handle unit 47, the balls 45 can be cammed radially outwardly to a locking position, and by counterrotation of the handle unit, the balls 45 are allowed to retract radially inwardly into the recesses 57 to a releasing position. As shown in FIG. 2, when the balls 45 are urged radially outwardly they contact the inclined locking surface 29 to draw the two container sections 13 and 15 tightly axially together to form a substantially dust-tight enclosure. In particular, the peripheral wall 33 is caused to bear tightly against the O-ring 27 to thereby form a tight seal around the periphery of the reel container 11.

The cap 49, which is shown most clearly in FIG. 3, includes an upstanding ring portion 59 and a base portion 61. The ring portion 59 has a keyway 63 therein to allow the cap 49 to be keyed to the cam section 55 of the handle unit 47. The base portion 61 serves to support the balls from below as shown in FIG. 2. The base portion forms a cam for each of the balls 45 to urge such balls axially. Each of such cams includes an elevated portion 65 and a recessed portion 67 interconnected by an inclined ramp portion 69. The cap 49 is rotatable with the handle unit 47 so that the ramp portion 69 eventually comes beneath the ball 45 and depending upon the direction of rotation, the ramp portion moves the ball upwardly to the elevated portion 65 or allows the ball to be lowered into the recessed portion 67. In the locking position, the balls 67 are elevated by the ramp portion 69 to urge the balls tightly axially against the locking surface 29 to assure that the reel container is tightly sealed.

The relationship between the ramp 69 and the recesses 57 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. There it can be seen that each of the recesses 57 begins substantially at the intersection of a ramp 69 and a recessed portion 67 and extends circumferentially beyond the other end of such recessed portion and terminates along the adjacent elevated portion 65. In the releasing position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the balls 45 are resting on the recessed portions 67 and are disposed radially inwardly in the recesses 57 so that the balls are spaced from the locking surface 29 (FIG. 6). During the first increment of rotation of the handle unit 47 in moving from the releasing position to the locking position (FIG. 4), the balls 45 are cammed radially outwardly by the cam section to the maximum radial outward positions thereof in which they engage or nearly engage the locking surface 29. At this point the balls 45 are resting on the recessed portions 67 and about to move up their respective ramp portions 69. This position of the balls 45 may be referred to as the intermediate position.

To complete the locking sequence, the handle unit 47 is rotated further in the same direction so that the ramps 69 come beneath the balls 45 to urge the latter axially upwardly onto the elevated portions 65 and into tight engagement with the locking surface 29 to thereby draw the two container sections 13 and 15 tightly together. Further, during the elevation of the balls, they are held in their radial outward position by the curved portions of the cam section 55. To unlock the reel container 11, the handle unit 47 is counterrotated, whereupon the balls 45 are first moved axially away from the locking surface 29 as permitted by the ramp portion 69 and then they are allowed to move radially inwardly by the recesses 57 upon further counterrotation of the handle unit.

It can be seen that in the releasing position, the balls 45 are recessed or lowered by the recessed portions 67 so that under no circumstances would the balls 45 initially be too high up relative to the locking surface 29' to lockingly interengage therewith. As the balls 45 are moved both radially and axially toward the locking surface 29,

the container sections 13 and 15 are locked securely together. It is preferred in the moving from the releasing position to the locking position to initially move the locking balls 45 only radially and not axially to the intermediate position. Normally the portion of rotation of the handle unit 47 which moves the balls 45 radially outwardly is accomplished very easily as normally the balls do not contact the locking surface 29 until they reach or nearly reach the maximum radial outward positions thereof.

The size and orientation of the recesses 5-7 relative to the portions 65, 67, and 69 can be changed depending upon the results desired. Preferably, however, these portions of the device are arranged so that in moving from the releasing to the locking positions, the balls first move only or substantially radially and then move only or substantially axially.

Relative rotation between the handle unit 47 and the upper case section .13 is limited by a suitable arrangement of abutment and stop members. Preferably, the handle unit 47 carries at least one stop member 71 on the periphery of the cup section 51 as shown in FIG. 7. A suitable abutment 73 is molded integrally with the upper container section 13 integral with the cylindrical wall 37 and projecting radially inwardly as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. At least two of the abutments 73 are provided so that rotation of the handle unit in both directions is limited and in the embodiment illustrated, two pairs of the abutments 73 are provided. Of course, the abutments 73 are appropriately spaced so that when the stop members 71 contact one of the abutments, the reel container is in the locked position and when the other of the abutments is contacted, the container is in the releasing position.

Another feature of this invention is the manner in which the locking and releasing positions are marked. It is apparent that when the reel container 11 is in or near the locked position, that the balls 45 urge the handle unit 47 downwardly tightly against the transverse end wall 39. The transverse end wall 39 is provided with a shallow recess 75 (FIG. 7) immediately adjacent each of the abutments 73. Thus, just prior to the time that the stop member 71 engages the abutment 73, the lower end of the stop member 71, which forms a slight downward projection, is pulled into the recess 75 to produce a sort of clicking or snap action noticeable to the operator. Thus, the operator is advised that the fully locked position has been reached and there is no danger of leaving the reel container only partially locked. Furthermore, the stop member engaging in the recess 75 provides some additional resistance to unintentional counterrotation of the handle unit 47. Therefore, it is less likely that the reel container will unintentionally become unlocked.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim: 1. In a container for a reel, the combination of: first and second complementary container sections, peripheral portions of said container sections being engageable to form a substantially sealed enclosure;

means on said first container section defining a locking surface adjacent a central portion of said first container section;

a detent;

means on said second container section adjacent said locking surface for mounting said detent for movement generally axially toward and away from said locking surface, said detent being movable into engagement with said locking surface to draw the peripheral portions of said container sections tightly together to seal the enclosure; and

means for forcibly moving said detent generally axially into engagement with said locking surface to thereby sealingly interlock the container sections.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said detent mounting means mounts said detent for generally radial movement and for generally axial movement and said moving means moves said detent first generally radially toward said locking surface and then generally axially toward said locking surface.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the movement of said container sections into sealingly interlocked relationship defines a locked position of said container sections and wherein said combination includes means responsive to the force of said detent against said locking surface for providing an indication to the user that the locked position has been reached.

4. In a container for a reel, the combination of:

first and second complementary container sections,

said container sections being engageable to form a substantially sealed enclosure;

said first container section having a protruding portion extending generally axially into the interior of said enclosure in spaced relation to the lateral periphery of said enclosure to define a space for the reel, said protruding portion having a locking surface exposed within said enclosure; and

said second container section having an offset portion extending generally axially inwardly into the interior of said enclosure toward said protruding portion of said first section and said locking surface;

a detent;

said offset portion including means for mounting said detent on said second container section for bodily movement generally radially and axially toward and away from said locking surface of said first container section, said detent being forcibly engageable with said locking surface to draw said container sections tightly together; and

actuator means for moving said detent generally radially and axially into engagement with said locking surface to rigidly lock said container sections together.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuator means first moves said detent generally radially outwardly toward the locking surface and then generally axially toward the locking surface, at least a substantial portion of the radial movement being accomplished without forcibly engaging the detent with the locking surface whereby said substantial portion of said radial movement is accomplished with the application of a minimum magnitude force to said actuator means.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes movable handle means mounted on one of said container sections, first cam means movable with said handle means for moving said detent generally radially outwardly toward said locking surface, and second cam means movable with said handle means for moving said detent generally axially toward and into engagement with said locking surface whereby movement of said handle means causes said container sections to be interlocked.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the locking of said container sections together defines a locked position of the actuator, at least a portion of said handle means rides on said one container section and said handle means is drawn toward said one container section by the forcible engagement of said detent and said locking surface and one of said One container section and said handle having a shallow recess and the other of said one container section and said handle means having a projection receivable in said recess in said locked position, the forcible engagement of said detent and locking surface urging said handle means toward said one container section to thereby force said projection into said recess to clearly mark said locked position.

8. In a container for a reel, the combination of:

first and second complementary container sections, said container sections being engageable to form a substantially sealed enclosure;

said first container section having a generally centrally disposed wall portion defining a boss which extends generally axially inwardly into said enclosure in radially spaced relationship to the lateral periphery of the enclosure to define a space for the reel, said boss having a. transverse end wall with an aperture therethrough, said transverse end wall defining a locking surface adjacent said aperture;

said second container section defining a generally centrally disposed well on the exterior of the enclosure and having a flange depending from the portion of said second container section which defines said well, said flange extending generally axially inwardly into said enclosure and through said aperture in said transverse end wall, said flange having a laterally extending opening therethrough adjacent said locking surface;

a detent mounted in said opening for generally radial and axial movement toward and away from said locking surface, said detent being forcibly engageable with said locking surface to draw said container sections tightly together; and

a rotatable actuator including a handle portion rotatably mounted in said well of said second container section, a first cam section mounted for rotation with said handle portion and disposed radially inwardly of said flange and engageable with said detent to urge the latter radially outwardly upon rotation of said handle portion, and a second cam section on which said detent is supportable for urging the detent generally axially into engagement with said locking surface upon continued rotation of said handle portion. 9. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said detent is in the form of a ball and said locking surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the container. 10. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said first cam section includes a generally circular portion for holding said detent radially outwardly and a recessed portion for allowing retraction of said detent radially inwardly and for camming said detent radially outwardly, and said second cam section is in the form of a plate secured to said first carn section, said plate having a surface on which said detent is supported, said surface including an elevated portion and a depressed portion interconnected by a ramp portion, said depressed portion lying generally adjacent said recessed portion of said first cam section and said ramp portion and said elevated portion lying generally adjacent said circular portion of said first section.

11. In a container for a reel, the combination of: first and second complementary container sections, peripheral portions of said container sections being engageable to form a substantially sealed enclosure;

means on said first container section defining a locking surface adjacent a central portion of said first container section; a detent; means on said second container section adjacent said locking surface for mounting said detent for movement toward and away from said locking surface, said detent being forcibly moveable into engagement with said locking surface to forcibly draw the peripheral portion of said container sections tightly together to thereby insure that the enclosure is sealed;

actuator means forcibly engageable with said detent for moving said detent into engagement with said locking surface to thereby forcibly interlock said container sections;

said actuator means including a movable handle mounted for movement on one of said container sections between a locked position in which said con- 9 10 tainer sections are interlocked and an unlocked poin said locked position to thereby advise the user sition, the force of said detent against said actuator h id l ck d position i reached, means urging said handle toward said one container section and causing said handle to forcibly bear Refe e Cited thereon; and 5 one of said handle and said one container section hav- FOREIGN PATENTS ing a shallow recess therein and the other of said 613,140 11/1960 Italy.

handle and said one container section having a projection receivable in said recess when said handle is JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

